Tailgate LED (light emitting diode) cap system, device, and method

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices, and methods for a tailgate LED (light emitting diode) cap system, device and method, for attaching LED caps on top of truck tailgates as a safe and secure after-market or retrofit product. The LED cap can be easily attached to the tops of truck tailgates with fasteners but are not removable without unlocking locks covering the fasteners.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to truck tailgates lights, and in particular tosystems, devices, and methods for a tailgate LED (light emitting diode)cap system, device and method, for attaching on top of truck tailgatesas an after-market or retrofit product which can be easily attached totailgates with fasteners but not easily removed without unlocking lockscovering the fasteners.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Trucks having fold down tailgates are often used on construction sitesto deliver and retrieve supplies and materials, and when stopped oftenturn off their front and rear lights and brake lights. A problem occursthat the trucks are not easily visible when stopped when their lightsare turned off during these stops. As such, it can be dangerous toothers when these trucks are stopped since their visibility can beseverely limited, especially in dark locations or during storms, and thelike.

Leaving on the truck vehicle's lights on may not be enough to bringattention to the stopped trucks. As such, there is a need to have extralights for bringing attention to a stopped truck vehicle to increase thevisibility of the stopped vehicle as well as for safety reasons.

Additionally, standard vehicle lights are usually limited to be used forbreaking, signaling or similar functions, and are not versatile to bringseparate attention to a stopped truck vehicle.

For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,237,557 to Hertz et al. shows and describesa pickup truck tailgate safety light system, that generally must beincorporated into the tailgate of a pickup truck, and would not beavailable as an after-market product that could be added by a truckowner to their existing truck tailgate.

Over the years various types of products have been proposed forproviding extra lights to tailgates on trucks, but would not besatisfactory as an after-market product. U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,873 to Fox;U.S. Pat. No. 9,205,774 to Kennemer et al. each describe other lightsystems that can be attached over the top edge of a truck tailgate.However, these devices are intended to be easily attached as well asdetached from the top of the tailgate. As such, these types of devicescan be easily removed and stolen when the truck is left alone.

Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the priorart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide systems,devices, and methods for a truck tailgate LED (light emitting diode) capcover for attaching on top of truck tailgates as a safe and secureafter-market or retrofit product.

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a trucktailgate LED (light emitting diode) cap system, device and method, whichcan be easily attached to tailgates with fasteners but not easilyremoved without unlocking locks covering the fasteners.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a trucktailgate LED (light emitting diode) cap system, device and method, whichcan be used to draw visibility to the truck on a job site or anywherewhere added visibility is required for safety.

A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide a trucktailgate LED (light emitting diode) cap system, device and method, whichcan be activated as a strobe light while the vehicle is in motion or isparked on a job site.

The cap cover has LEDs (light emitting diodes) in a LED light bar acrossthe length of the cap cover. The LEDs can be powered by being attachedto the truck 12 volt battery. The cap cover can be formed from moldedplastic, and the LEDs can be activated by a switch on the cap coverand/or activated remotely by a key fob that can be carried with thedriver.

The LEDs are intended to be used when the truck is stopped at a jobsite, and can be used to draw visibility to the truck anywherevisibility is needed.

The LED cap covers can include key locking doors which prevent someonefrom accessing the hex head bolts which attach the cap cover with LEDsto the tailgate.

A preferred embodiment has the cap cover mounted to the top and upperside edges of the tailgate by hex head bolts on the top of the cap coverand on the upper front edge of the cap cover.

A plurality of key locked doors can be mounted on top of the cap cover,which cover each of the hex head bolts.

The key lock doors when locked prevents someone from unscrewing the hexhead bolts.

When the driver uses a key to open the key lock doors, the doors can beremoved, and access to the hidden hex head bolts is now available.

With the key lock doors removed, the driver, can use a wrench tounfasten the previously inaccessible hex head bolts, and then remove thecap cover having the LEDs.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the presently preferredembodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1A is a top left front perspective view of the LED cap cover.

FIG. 1B is a top right front perspective view of the LED cap cover ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a bottom left front perspective view of the LED cap cover ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a bottom right front perspective view of the LED cap cover ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2C is a top view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2E is a right end view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2F is a left end view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the LED cap cover of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a right lock compartment of the LED capcover of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the cap cover of FIG. 3 positionedabove the top of a tailgate.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the left lock compartment of the LED capcover of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a partial assembled view of the cap cover of the precedingFIG. 4 on the top of the tailgate with the locking doors and fastenersready to be attached.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the right lock compartment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged top perspective view of a single locking doorwith key for the cap cover of the preceding figures.

FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of the locking door with key ofFIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a side view of the locking door and key of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D is a front view of the locking door and key of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6E is a top view of the locking door of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6F is a bottom view of the locking door of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the cap cover of FIG. 5 attached to thetailgate.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the right compartment portion of the capcover on the tailgate of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7B is a left end view of the assembled cap cover on the tailgate ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the assembled cap cover on tailgateof FIG. 7 along arrows 7C.

FIG. 7D is an enlarged view of the top of the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 7C.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for the assembled LED cap cover of thepreceding figures with a key fob.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention indetail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplications to the details of the particular arrangements shown sincethe invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of PreferredEmbodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made toparticular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is tobe understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specificationdoes not include all possible combinations of such particular features.For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of aparticular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can alsobe used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in thecontext of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention,and in the invention generally.

In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be describedmore fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichpreferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled inthe art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and primenotation is used to indicate similar elements in alternativeembodiments.

A list of components will now be described.

-   1 LED cap cover-   10 elongated top-   12 threaded fastener(s) (bolts, screws, and the like)-   13 washers/locking nuts-   14 locking door-   15 key lock-   16 pivoting lock tab-   18. key for key lock-   20 compartment(s)-   21 step ledge-   22 side slit for the outer end of locking tab 16-   24 cup shaped bottom of the compartment(s) 20-   29 through-holes in bottom of compartment(s)-   30 elongated front side-   33 elongated channel for motherboard assembly of LEDs-   34 motherboard assembly of LEDs-   35 power plug-   36 flat lens-   37 front fasteners (screws, bolts, and the like)-   38 through-holes for fasteners-   39 socket indentation(s) for fastener(s) 37-   40 elongated rear lip-   41 interior facing edge-   100 tailgate-   110 top of tailgate-   120 front upper edge of tailgate-   130 rear upper edge of tailgate

FIG. 1A is a top left front perspective view of the LED cap cover 1.FIG. 1B is a top right front perspective view of the LED cap cover 1 ofFIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a bottom left front perspective view of the LED capcover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1D is a bottom right front perspective view ofthe LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2B is arear view of the LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2C is a top view ofthe LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the LED capcover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2E is a right end view of the LED cap cover 1of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2F is a left end view of the LED cap cover 1 of FIG.1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-2F, the cap cover 1 can include an elongated tophaving a generally rectangular configuration with an elongated rear lip40, and a generally rectangular elongated front 30, that can be formedfrom ABS plastic, which together can form the housing for the cap cover1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 3A isan enlarged view of a right lock compartment 20 of the LED cap cover 1of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-3A, the elongated top 10 of the LED cap cover 1can include one or more compartments 20, each having a through-hole 29in the bottom of the compartment(s) 20 so that a threaded type fastener12 can pass therethrough. The threaded fastener(s) 12 can include butnot be limited to screws, bolts, and the like. A preferred embodiment ofthe fastener(s) 12 can be hex head bolts, which can add additionalprotection for requiring a hex head socket wrench in order for thefastener(s) 12 to be removed.

The threaded end(s) of the threaded type fastener(s) 12 can extendthrough the other side of the top 10 (as shown in FIGS. 2E-2F). Each ofthe compartment(s) 20 can have a removable locking door 14 (which willbe described later in greater detail) that can be sized to fit the upperopening to the compartment(s) 20 and sit on an internal step ledge(s)21. While the preferred embodiment of the cap cover 1 shows threecompartments 20, the invention can be used with less or morecompartments 20 as needed.

Along the front 30 of the LED cap cover 1 can be an elongated channel 33that can house a motherboard assembly of LEDs (light emitting diodes)34. The motherboard assembly 40 can be sized to tightly fit within thechannel 33 and/or be attached by an adhesive, and the like. On the endof the motherboard assembly of LEDs 34 can be a plug 35 that can attachto a power supply, to be described later. A flat lens 36 can be formedfrom a clear plastic material can be adhered to the front 30 to coverboth the motherboard assembly of LEDs 34 and channel 33.

A plurality of threaded fasteners 37, such as but not limited to screws,bolts and the like, can have threaded shaft portions that pass intothrough-holes 38 across the front 30 of the LED cap cover 1.

A preferred embodiment of the motherboard assembly of LEDs 34 can haveup to 42 or more LEDs. LEDs that can be used, can include but not belimited the types of LEDS shown and described in U.S. Published PatentApplication Publications: 2005/0146888 to Metcalf and 2017/0184271 toNorris et al. which are both incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the cap cover 1 of FIG. 3 positionedabove the top 110 of a tailgate 100. FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of theleft lock compartment 20 of the LED cap cover 1 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a partial assembled view of the cap cover 1 of the precedingFIG. 4 on the top 110 of the tailgate 100 with the locking doors 14 andfasteners 12 ready to be attached. FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of theright lock compartment 20 of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-5A, the LED cap cover 1 can be positioned so thatthe elongated top 10 overlays the top 110 of the tailgate 100, with thecap cover 1 sized so that the rear elongated lip 40 abuts against therear upper edge 130 of the tailgate 100 and the front 10 of the capcover against the upper front 120 of the tailgate 100.

An installer can screw the front fasteners 37 with or without washersand locking nuts into through-holes 38 and into the upper front 120 ofthe tailgate 100. The installer can also thread the threaded ends offasteners 12 into the through-holes 29 in the bottom of thecompartment(s) 20 and into the top 110 of the tailgate 100. The lockingdoors 14 can be used to prevent others from removing the fasteners 12when the truck is stopped or parked, preventing the theft of the LED capcover 1.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged top perspective view of a single locking door 14with key 18 for use with a lock 15 for covering the compartments 20 ofthe cap cover 1 of the preceding figures. FIG. 6B is a bottomperspective view of the locking door 14 with key 18 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6Cis a side view of the locking door 14 and key 18 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6D isa front view of the locking door 14 and key 18 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6E is atop view of the locking door 14 of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6F is a bottom view ofthe locking door 14 of FIG. 6A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-6F, each of the locking door(s) 14 can be sized totightly fit the upper opening of the compartment(s) 20 and sit on theinternal step ledge(s) 21. The locking door(s) 14 when attached canprovide a waterproof seal to prevent moisture intrusion into thecompartment(s) 20. Optional seals, such as but not limited toelastomeric, rubber and plastic washers, liners, and the like, can beused to waterproofing the opening into the compartment(s) 20.

Each of the key locks 15 on the locking doors 14 can preferably be keyedto an identical key 18 so that one key can open all of the locking doors14. A preferred embodiment of the locking doors 14 is to have a key lock15 which can rotate a pivoting tab 16 that can pivot into and out of aside slit 22 on an inner side of the compartment(s) 20.

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the cap cover 1 of FIG. 5 attached to thetailgate 100. FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the right compartmentportion 20 of the cap cover 1 on the tailgate 100 of FIG. 7. FIG. 7B isa left end view of the assembled cap cover 1 on the tailgate 100 of FIG.7. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the assembled cap cover 1 on thetailgate 100 of FIG. 7 along arrows 7C. FIG. 7D is an enlarged view ofthe top of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7C.

Referring to FIGS. 7-7D, the cap cover 1 can be formed from a top 10,front 30 and elongated rear lip 40 that together can form a singlemolded housing. The underside of the top 10 of the cap cover 1 can havea generally raised shell surface 11 that can be separated from the top110 and upper rear edge of the upper rear 130 and upper front edge ofthe upper front 120 of the tailgate 100, so that an airgap can be formedtherebetween. The elongated rear lip 40 can be raised above with a lowerinternal facing edge 41 pressed against the upper rear 130 of thetailgate 100.

The bottom of the cup shape 24 molded inside of the compartment 20 canformed so as to sit against the top 110 of the tailgate 100. Thethreaded fastener(s) 12 can include washers/locking nuts 13 for creatinga tight seal to the top 110 of the tailgate 100. With the internalfacing edge 41 cup shaped compartment 24 an airgap can exist between themost of the top 110 of the tailgate 100 and the cap cover 1.

On the front 30 of the LED cap cover 1 socket indentation(s) 39 canallow for the heads of fastener(s) 37 to be below the outer surface ofthe front 30 of the cap cover 1.

As shown in FIG. 7D, the locking door(s) 14 can sit flush to with theouter surface of the top 10 of the LED cap cover 1. socketindentation(s) for fastener(s) 37

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram for the assembled LED cap cover of thepreceding figures with a key fob. The power plug 35 of the motherboardassembly of LEDs 34 previously described can be connected to theexisting 12 volt battery power supply in the truck vehicle. Optionally,the LED cap cover 1 can be connected to a separate rechargeable batterypower supply.

A wireless key fob can be used to activate the LEDs (light emittingdiodes). Activating the LEDs can be added as a feature to factory keyfob or can have a standalone remote activation device.

Other types of activating the LEDs can also be used such as but notlimited to a toggle switch, magnetic switch, and any other knowntechnique of controlling power to the unit.

The LEDs can stay lit in a solid pattern. Alternatively, the LEDs can beactivated to flash in clusters. Alternatively, the LEDs can be operatedto flash as strobe type lights.

Different colors of LEDs, such as but not limited to while, yellow, red,blue, green, combinations, thereof, and the like, can be used.

The LEDs can be used solely to draw visibility to the vehicle when on ajob site or anywhere added visibility is required for safety.

A second variation of this device can be used to replace the factorythird brake light/bed light with the added functionality of 2 highvisibility yellow LED caution strobes that can be activated while thevehicle is in motion or parked on a job site.

The novel cap cover 1 can be used for various makes, models, and yearstrucks with several types of LED light configurations. The highlyvisible LED Lights can be set to multiple patterns.

The outer case forming the housing of the top 10, front 30 and rear 30of the cap cover 1 can be made from durable ABS plastic and is designedto fit various makes, models, and years of pickup style trucks.

Other variations can be adapted to different styles of commercialvehicles such as step side trucks, Vans, Box, or straight trucks.

The novel LED cap cover 1 is designed specifically as a safety featurefor commercial vehicles.

Although the locking doors are shown and described as being completelyremovable, the door(s) can be continuously attached by a hinge(s) or bysliding the door(s) on a track(s).

While the preferred embodiment shows and describes doors for thecompartments, the invention can be practiced with only the lockpreventing access to the fastener(s).

Although the preferred embodiment describes key locks, where a singlekey can access all the locks to the doors in the compartments, theinvention can be used with different keys for each of the compartments.

While the locks are shown as being key locks, the invention can be usedwith other types of locks, such as but not limited to combination locks,and the like. The combination locks can have the same combination ordifferent combinations.

Although the compartments are shown and described on top of the capcover, the compartments can be in the side(s) of the cap cover, as wellas on both the top and side(s) of the cap cover.

While each of the compartments are shown with a separate locking door,the invention can be used with one or two of the compartments havinglocking doors.

Although three compartments, each with a fastener are shown anddescribed, the invention can be used with one, two or more than threecompartments.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shownin various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it haspresumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be,nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such othermodifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings hereinare particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth andscope of the claims here appended.

We claim:
 1. A light system for being attachable to truck tailgates,comprising: an elongated cap sized to fit onto a top of a trucktailgate, the elongated cap having an elongated rear lip, an elongatedtop, and an elongated front side; a plurality of lights on the elongatedfront side of the elongated cap; a plurality of compartments in theelongated top, each having upper open ends through the elongated cap; aplurality of fasteners adapted for attaching the cap to the top of thetruck tailgate, each of the fasteners being positioned in each of thecompartments; and a plurality of removable doors, each for covering theupper open ends of the compartments; and a plurality of locks, each lockbeing used for each door for preventing access to each of the fastenersto prohibit removing the light system unless the locks are unlocked,wherein the plurality of the lights is powered by a power supply.
 2. Thelight system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights includes: lightemitting diodes (LEDs).
 3. The light system of claim 2, wherein the LEDsare operated to continuously emit light from all of the LEDssimultaneously.
 4. The light system of claim 2, wherein the LEDs areoperated to continuously emit light from different clusters of the LEDs.5. The light system of claim 2, wherein the LEDs are operated as astrobe light.
 6. The light system of claim 2, further comprising: a keyfob for activating the LEDs.
 7. The light system of claim 1, wherein thepower supply is a separate battery power supply for the plurality of thelights.
 8. The light system of claim 1, wherein the power supply is anexisting 12 volt battery power supply for the truck.
 9. The light systemof claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments includes threecompartments, each with at least one of the fasteners.
 10. The lightsystem of claim 1, further comprising: three doors, each used with theplurality of compartments so that the at least one lock is used forpreventing access to at least one of the compartments with the at leastone fastener.
 11. The light system of claim 1, wherein the at least onecompartment is located on the front side of the cap cover.
 12. The lightsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locks is selected from atleast one of: a key lock and a combination lock.
 13. The light system ofclaim 1, wherein each of the plurality of locks, each being opened witha same key or same combination.
 14. The light system of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of locks, each being opened with a different key ordifferent combination.
 15. The light system of claim 1, wherein eachcompartment includes a cup shaped bottom for allowing each fastener topass therethrough, and each compartment having an upper step ledgeadjacent to the upper open end for allowing each removable door to sittherein so that a top of each door is flush with the elongated top ofthe cap.
 16. The light system of claim 15, wherein each lock includes apivoting lock tab that rotates between a lock position and an unlockposition.
 17. The light system of claim 16, wherein each compartmentincludes a side slit for allowing the pivoting tab to rotate into thelock position when each locked is locked, and rotate to the unlockposition with the pivoting tab out of the side slit.
 18. A light systemfor being attachable to truck tailgates, comprising: an elongated capsized to fit onto a top of a truck tailgate, the elongated cap having arear side, a top side, and a front side; a plurality of lights on thefront side of the cap; a compartment in the top side of the cap, havingan upper open end through the elongated cap; a plurality of fastenersadapted for attaching the cap to the top of the truck tailgate, at leastone fastener being positioned in the compartment; and a removable doorfor covering the upper open end of the compartment; and a lock forlocking the removable door to the upper open end of the compartment, thelock for preventing access to the fastener in the compartment, so as toprohibit removing the light system unless the lock is unlocked, whereinthe plurality of the lights is powered by a power supply.
 19. The lightsystem of claim 18, wherein the compartment includes a cup shaped bottomfor allowing the fastener to pass therethrough, and the compartmenthaving an upper step ledge adjacent to the upper open end for allowingthe removable door to sit therein so that a top of the door is flushwith the elongated top of the cap, wherein the lock includes a pivotinglock tab that rotates between a lock position and an unlock position,and wherein the compartment includes a side slit for allowing thepivoting tab to rotate into the lock position when each locked islocked, and rotate to the unlock position with the pivoting tab out ofthe side slit.